Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to reveal the implication of motivation and role of users of public services’ expectations and legitimate expectations choosing the co-production of public services. The author intends to distinguish the relation between the expectations, legitimate expectations and motivation that drives the users of public goods to contribute to co-production of public services. The legal principle of legitimate expectations creates legal certainty and reinforces the motivation of users to be more active and become involved in cooperation with public bodies.

Methodology – The paper is based on conceptual analysis and the analysis of scientific literature. It provides the definition and the main features of co-production, and analyses the implication of motivational factors of users of public services on the choice to participate co-producing public services. The role of expectations and legitimate expectations is analysed as well.

Findings – The cooperation and contribution creating, designing public services should be followed the trust between the co-producers. Parties need not only to trust each other, but also to have enough information about the motivation and expectations of other parties. Knowing that the co-production process does not always bring the initially expected results, parties should distinguish between general expectations and legitimate expectations, which are crucial should one party decide not to follow the rules, to forget promises or otherwise act unfairly. In this case the other party can pretend to protect the rights on the basis of legitimate expectations.

Research limitations/implications – This paper is based on theoretical conceptual analysis, and analysis of scientific literature; no empirical data was analysed. The paper covers the motivation, expectations and legitimate expectations of users of public services.

Practical implications – The research reveals the practical problem when there is no enough attention is payed to the motivation and expectations of users of public services.

Originality/Value – Despite the fact that the amount of research on co-production and the motivation of coproducers to cooperate is growing steadily, there is a lack of research on interconnection between the motivation, expectations of users of public services and the possibility of protecting some rights through the defence of legitimate expectations. There is a gap in the application of legal principles in co-production research.

Keywords: co-production, involvement, motivation, expectations, legitimate expectation, motivation.

Research type: general review.

JEL classification: A13, D46, H4, I31, I38, K40.